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Silver Stars-Lynx Preview

Jul 9, 2009 - 6:00 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

San Antonio (4-5) at Minnesota (8-4), 8:00 p.m. EDT

More than three weeks after losing their leading scorer from each of the last three years to a season-ending knee injury, the Minnesota Lynx still have one of the best records in the WNBA.

Continuing their strong play could be tough against a San Antonio Silver Stars team that had no problems exposing Minnesota's weaknesses without Seimone Augustus last season.

The Lynx look to become the second WNBA team to reach nine wins as they open a home-and-home series against the Silver Stars on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Minnesota (8-4) won three of four games against eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio (4-5) in 2008. Augustus was the Lynx's leading scorer in each of the victories, but the Silver Stars took advantage of her absence due to a sprained toe and defeated Minnesota 73-65 at home June 28, 2008.

It was the first game Augustus, who had made 82 consecutive starts since being drafted first overall in 2006, missed in her career.

Without the two-time All-Star, the Lynx shot 36.6 percent from the field, including 3 for 17 (17.6 percent) from 3-point range. They committed 15 turnovers to the Silver Stars' nine, and finished with 10 assists to San Antonio's 23.

San Antonio coach Dan Hughes admitted his team capitalized on Augustus' absence.

"That's a big hit, it's a huge hit," he said. "It was much easier without Augustus - let's just be factual."

Hughes' club will have another opportunity to beat a depleted Minnesota team with Augustus sidelined. She tore the ACL in her left knee in a loss at Phoenix on June 17, and underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday.

The Lynx, though, have won four of six without Augustus, whose career average of 21.2 points is the highest in league history.

Rookie guard Renee Montgomery scored 16 of her season-high 21 points in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime to lead Minnesota to a 96-94 home victory over Washington on Tuesday. She was 6 for 12 from the field and 9 for 11 from the line to help the Lynx overcome one of their worst defensive efforts of the year.

"I really think they learned from their mistakes tonight," coach Jen Gillom told the Lynx's official Web site. "This is definitely a learning experience for us and it will continue to be. As we go through those growing pains, hopefully we can still get a few wins out of that."

The Lynx feel they have a good chance of getting wins against the Silver Stars, whom they'll meet again in San Antonio on Sunday night.

"I think we play really well against San Antonio," second-year guard Candice Wiggins said. "We're fearless. We were young last year and we managed to win the series 3-1. I think we're up to that challenge."

The Silver Stars will likely need a better performance than they delivered Tuesday. They shot 29.8 percent from the field and scored a season low point in a 66-53 loss at Seattle, falling to 0-4 on the road.

The Lynx have won five of seven at the Target Center, where they are wrapping up a three-game homestand.